Gekko Hayate gave chase at full speed, reaching Hokage Rock at the same time as the spreading fissure!
Standing atop the First Hokage's head, Gekko Hayate stared at the Third Hokage's likeness, which the fissure had struck and split in half. Bits of stone still fell from it now and then!
With a bitter feeling in his heart, he glanced toward Hatake Ziyan!
What happened to being sure you could handle it? What happened to holding back?
In the distance, Hatake Ziyan saw Hiruzen Sarutobi's stone likeness split apart, and his hand twitched.
Uh! Little Monkey, you may have wronged me, but I didn't do this on purpose, so don't blame me! Hatake Ziyan silently recited the words, then moved his feet and headed straight back.
Meanwhile, Gekko Hayate was still standing atop the First's stone likeness in a daze!
Coming to his senses, Gekko Hayate prepared to return to the woods and ask his beloved Lord Ziyan what he should do about this.
But before Gekko Hayate could move, a flash of light appeared, and someone materialized beside him!
"Hayate? What happened here? How did Lord Third's statue get damaged?" Minato Namikaze asked as he appeared beside Gekko Hayate.
Hearing Minato Namikaze's question, Gekko Hayate gave a frightened shudder!
Gekko Hayate instinctively looked back toward where Hatake Ziyan had been, and Minato Namikaze followed his gaze!
A fissure about a meter wide stretched all the way into the depths of Back Mountain.
The sight of that fissure left Minato Namikaze rooted to the spot!
"Lord Hokage! Well... um..." Gekko Hayate was at a loss for words!
He wanted to tell the truth, but when he thought about how Hatake Ziyan would put him through the wringer if he found out Hayate had exposed him as the culprit, the words